Coaching is about change. In this article I want to share with you what that “change” might look like because for most of us, change is scary. Coaching is not scary but it is about change!
There are a number of ways to drop into coaching and the change that it will produce. Here is a list that has some examples and I’m sure you can think of others:
You have a strong sense of your ideal self, the person who you want to be but you're not there yet. Coaching can help you get there faster and more completely
You’re a leader and you’ve been told there are some things you need to work on to get that next promotion. You’ve tried but can't quite get there and need someone in your corner. A coach can and will be that person for you!
You’re doing well and you know you can be more successful if you could just changef a few behaviours, habits, or ways of thinking about things - they are holding you back!
You’re doing well at work, not so well at home or vice versa and want to figure out how to strike a balance that works in your favour.
You’ve been a leader and have been doing well, now you are in a new role and something isn’t working. You’re not feeling as successful as you were before.
What’s getting in your way that might need a refresh? A change?
Part of what I believe is scary about change is that any of the above could be “big” and “hard” and that makes change scary.
Because coaches help you get behind the curtains of the show that is you, some of what you might find out about yourself could be scary. So, often people don’t want to work with a coach because those things will come to the surface. I often hear those people say, “I’m good! No need for a coach here! I’ve got it under control.”
For me, energy expended to keep under control is wasted energy. Let me explain. To keep things under control means working hard to keep yourself in a safe zone where you can hopefully influence outcomes for any situation and stay in control.
That is truly not possible, especially today with things moving as fast as they are and with the complexity, ambiguity, and unknowns “out there”.
What’s more important is that the energy you use trying to control things, depletes the energy you have for “better” things in life and at work. And when you get tired of the effort and aren’t in control, frustration, anger, and hopelessness can creep in! And that puts you in a downward spiral!
So, over the next 5 weeks, I will pull together and share my approach to change that will save energy, time, frustration and get you through any challenge or change effort with new insight so you can be at your best without having to be in control!